From Gang Banging To Global Cocaine Empire: A Crip Shot Caller Reveals Becoming A Cartel Kingpin

In this powerful, deeply personal interview, Tanc walks us through a life shaped by gang culture, prison time, cartel connections, near-death situations, and ultimately—transformation.

From his early days in the California state system to navigating the dangerous world of cross-border drug trafficking, he breaks down how major operations moved product from Peru and Mexico into the U.S., what it was like coordinating “jumps” across the border, why warehouses sat full of hundreds of untouched bricks, and the razor-thin line between survival and disaster.

He also opens up about fatherhood changing his mindset, the struggle to find legitimate work after prison, facing racism while trying to re-enter society, and how community college became the unlikely start of a new path.

This episode dives into:

-His final state bid and what made him leave gang life behind
-How he became involved with high-level cartel operators
-The logistics behind massive cross-border drug shipments
-The paranoia, betrayals, and close calls that come with the lifestyle
-The moment he knew the feds were closing in
-How education and family pulled him toward a different life

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00:00 Intro: Meet Tanc & Background
02:12 Growing Up in South Central LA
06:33 Early Crime, Robberies, and Bank Heists
13:35 Gang Life, Juvenile Time, and State Prison
25:29 Coming Home & Trying to Go Legit
27:15 Discovering the Hollywood Club Scene
29:59 Today's Sponsors
33:51 First Taste of Ecstasy—And Seeing $$
36:40 Growing a Multi-Million Dollar Ecstasy Empire
45:47 Making Hollywood Connections & Living Large
53:23 Transitioning from Ecstasy to Cocaine
58:52 Meeting 'O' & Forming a Powerful Partnership
01:10:36 Into the Cartel World—International Drug Running
01:17:12 Cross-Border Operations & Stash Houses
01:31:15 Expanding to the East Coast: New York Hustle
01:41:11 Money Movement, Laundering & Risk
01:48:42 Scaling Up: Cartel-Level Distribution
02:00:06 The Fed Problem: Informants, Encounters & Risk
02:08:48 Busts, Betrayals & The Fall
02:19:12 Getting Pinched: Arrest, Indictments & Snitches
02:33:03 Concluding the Case & Lessons Learned
02:44:00 Life After Prison & Final Thoughts